AURANGABAD: Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) administrator Astik Kumar Pandey has warned that citizens aged above 45 years would face action if they failed to take the vaccine against Covid-19 by April 30.
“Traders in this age group foun d to have not taken the vaccine would be prohibited from opening their shops next month, when the restrictions are likely to be relaxed,” said Pandey in his public address through Facebook live on Sunday evening.
Aurangabad district collector Sunil Chavan had recently said, ‘no vaccine, no pay’ to healthcare and front line workers, triggering a debate as the Union government has already made it clear that vaccination is voluntary. Pandey’s comment too sparked a debate.
Pandey said the target beneficiaries should not come on the streets if they fail to take the vaccine. “The AMC has implemented a ‘mega vaccination mission’ and all target groups should take the shots at the earliest,” he said.
The AMC administrator, who had recently tested positive for Covid-19 despite taking the second dose of the vaccine on March 12, said the recovery from the disease was smooth and quick for him and that vaccination is important for all.
When contacted by TOI, Pandey said, “All who are eligible for vaccination but don’t take the jabs can sit at home and not come on the roads. Such citizens should not be allowed to pose a threat to the health security of society.”
Asked about any legal framework for making vaccination a must, Pandey said the civic body was contemplating issuing a necessary resolution soon.
Maharashtra chief secretary Sitaram Kunte downplayed the hype surrounding Pandey’s comment. “Vaccination is voluntary as directed by the Centre. Even if taking the vaccine is optional, it is advisable to undergo immunisation in personal as well as public interest,” he said.
The AMC, which started focusing on traders, banking staff and industrial workers since last Monday as a part of its ongoing vaccination drive, had administered 1,69,510 doses till Sunday.
The beneficiaries included 52,582 citizens in the age group of 45 to 59. A total of 46,801 citizens aged above 60 years have taken their first dose of vaccine against Covid-19, shows official data.